Formation
The band was founded in 1987 by Markus Reinhardt and Pompejo Ricciardi. Reinhardt's brother Oliver Reinhardt joined the band sometime afterward. After producing a demo tape, co-founder Ricciardi left the band and was replaced by Peter Heppner. Heppner had known the band from mutual friends and from growing up in the same neighborhood in Hamburg. Oliver Reinhardt departed the band, leaving the current lineup as Peter Heppner (vocals) and Markus Reinhardt (electronics).
After producing two new demo tapes, Wolfsheim applied at various labels, until they caught the attention of Strange Ways Records, which has since published all their records.
No Happy View & Popkiller
In 1991, the single "The Sparrows and the Nightingales" was released, followed by the single "It's Not Too Late (Don't Sorrow)" and their first album "No Happy View" in 1992. While No Happy View was recorded in two weeks, the sophomore "Popkiller" (1993) was given more time to be produced. This allowed Wolfsheim to incorporate more classical elements.
In 1995, Wolfsheim released a compilation, "55578", which stayed on the German Media Control Charts for five weeks. Its name is the postal code for Wolfsheim, Germany.
Dreaming Apes
The third album "Dreaming Apes" was released in February 1996, followed by Wolfsheim's first tour. On this tour the live album "Hamburg Rom Wolfsheim" was recorded and published in October 1997.
It was in 1998 when Wolfsheim received public attention, after Heppner had recorded a duet "Die Flut" (The Surge) with Joachim Witt. This song was a major hit, reaching number two on the German Single Charts.
Spectators
"Spectators", the fourth album, was released in February 1999 and went to number two on the German album charts. That summer, Wolfsheim played at many of the major German festivals and also played their first show outside of Germany, at Belgium's Eurorock Festival.
In 2001, Heppner recorded more songs as a guest artist. His collaboration with "Schiller", "Dream of You", received heavy rotation on MTV Germany. He also collaborated on "Glasgarten" with "Goethes Erben". These collaborations brought Wolfsheim still more attention. Also in 2001, Metropolis Records brought Wolfsheim to American audiences, releasing Spectators in the United States. Recordings from the Spectators tour were released as a DVD Kompendium in April 2002.
Casting Shadows
"Casting Shadows", their fifth studio album, was released in March 2003. The single "Kein Zurück" debuted at number five on the Media Control Charts, later reaching number four, and staying in the top ten for 10 weeks. Casting Shadows itself reached the top position on the album charts. In March and April 2004, Wolfsheim went on their first tour in the USA.
On January 17th, 2008, it was announced on the band's official website that the collaboration between Markus Reinhardt and Peter Heppner is reaching its end. According to the press release, the reasons for this are attributed to ongoing disputes concerning the future of Wolfsheim. Heppner's ambitions to launch a solo career meant that any plans for the production of a new Wolfsheim album would be suspended for 2009.
The disputes peaked when Peter Heppner signed a multi-album solo record deal in late 2005 and Markus Reinhardt, considering this a breach of contract and a disregard for the basic interests of Wolfsheim, filed a lawsuit to exclude Heppner from the Wolfsheim partnership so that Wolfsheim could continue without him. In spring 2008, Reinhardt's lawsuit was rejected.
Real
Wolfsheim Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Once more scared
Misgivings haven't gone
Inside this human race
No touch of grace
And still no place to go
I know it's up to me
But I'm walking and fro
Always thinking about the ways I chose
Welcome back yesterday ... not far away ... I'll keep an eye on you
Tell me how could I forget all the angers I once had
Should I start again ... to find the same ... that I once left behind
When tell me why should I forget all these dreams that I still have
Another time ... another turn, I thought
But now I know that's wrong
This life will still remain the same
If I don't change a thing myself
Suddenly so many doors are opening ... for me to try
I know it's up to me ...
The lyrics of Wolfsheim's "Real" describe the internal struggle of a person who has just returned to the world after isolating themselves for some time. The person is once again confronted with the realities of the world, and is scared of the misgivings that still exist within humanity. There is a sense of hopelessness, as the person feels as though they still don't have a place in the world, and are still searching for a sense of grace that they are unable to find.
Despite this, the person acknowledges that it is up to them to decide if the world around them is real or not. They continue to walk, constantly thinking about the choices that they have made, and the ways that these choices have affected their life. The lyrics also touch on the idea of nostalgia, with the person welcoming back memories of the past, but ultimately realizing that they cannot go back and change anything. The song ends on a hopeful note, with the person recognizing that they have the power to change their life, and that there are many doors open for them to explore and try new things.
Line by Line Meaning
Now that I am back out there
After a period of absence, I am once again trying to navigate the world
Once more scared
Despite my previous experiences, I am still feeling afraid and uncertain
Misgivings haven't gone
My doubts and reservations from before are still present
Inside this human race
Within the larger context of humanity and the world
No touch of grace
There is a lack of elegance or beauty in my experiences
And still no place to go
I feel lost and without direction
I know it's up to me
I understand that I am responsible for my own choices and path
To decide if this is real
I must determine what is genuine and meaningful in my life
But I'm walking and fro
Despite my uncertainty, I am still moving forward and exploring
Always thinking about the ways I chose
Reflecting on the decisions I have made and their outcomes
Welcome back yesterday ... not far away ... I'll keep an eye on you
Memories of the past are still close and present for me
Tell me how could I forget all the angers I once had
I struggle with letting go of past resentments and negative emotions
Should I start again ... to find the same ... that I once left behind
I question whether returning to old habits or environments will lead to the same outcomes
When tell me why should I forget all these dreams that I still have
Despite the challenges, I question why I should abandon my aspirations
Another time ... another turn, I thought
In the past, I believed that another opportunity or change would bring fulfillment
But now I know that's wrong
I realize that relying on external factors alone will not bring true satisfaction
This life will still remain the same
If I do not make changes, my circumstances will not improve
If I don't change a thing myself
It is up to me to take action and make personal changes
Suddenly so many doors are opening ... for me to try
New opportunities are arising, giving me the chance to experiment and grow
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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